ORLANDO, Fla. – The Orlando Pride (10-6-7, 37 points) picked up a crucial point Saturday in their 0-0 draw with Portland Thorns FC (13-5-5, 44 points).
Orlando extends its unbeaten streak to eight straight games, which dates back to a 1-1 tie with the Chicago Red Stars on Aug. 5.
The Pride also picked up its first point against the 2013 Champions over its four all-time meetings.
"Portland are a very good side, but I thought it would've been a grave injustice if we would have lost the game. We limited them to one real chance. We dominated the game, particularly for the first 30 minutes. I thought we played really well," Pride head coach Tom Sermanni said. "But defensively they're very good and they don't give up a lot of chances, and they get everybody behind the ball. They are good at grinding out one-nil results away from home. I was delighted with how our players went about the job tactically today, considering we didn't have any time to work with the team. I was delighted with the effort and thought if any team should’ve deserved to win the game I thought it was us."
Team officials said Orlando can clinch a place in the postseason if Seattle Reign FC loses or draws in its Sunday night match against FC Kansas City.
"[The draw] puts an awful lot of pressure on Seattle to win both games and turn the seven-goal differential around," Sermanni said. "I think I'd much rather be in our position now than Seattle's. But we still, theoretically, need another point depending on what happens this weekend."
The Pride wrap up the regular season next Saturday at the North Carolina Courage.